Curb, gutter, and drain block.



PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

A. AUSTIN.

0 NM N NI w n DU D V N m A n IIP N EN T CURB, GUT

APPLIOA N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 2 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CURB, GUTTER, AND DRAIN BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,791, dated November 22, 1904.

Application filed July 23, 1904. Serial No. 217,895. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Curb, Gutter, and Drain Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined gutter, curb, and drain block foruse illustrating the character of the joint between them. Fig. 3 is a view of one end of one of my improved gutter-blocks, and Fig. at is a View of the other end of the same.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 represents part of a path, drive, or road way, 2 part of a lawn bordering the same, and 3 an interposed block having a concave gutter portion 4:. with projecting lips 5 and 6 on opposite sides of the same, the lip 6 on the lawn side of the gutter-block being higher than that on the road side, so as to act as a curb for the lawn. Through the block 3 extends a longitudinal aperture 7, constituting an inclosed drain which is in communication with the gutter at intervals, so as to receive the water therefrom. These communications may be formed in the body of the block; but by preference they are formed at the joints between successive blocks, so that they involve simply the recessing of the ends of the blocks, as shown, for instance, at 8, these recesses being by preference narrower at the mouth or upper end than at the inner end, which communicates with the drainaperture, so as to prevent it from being clogged, since anything which can enter the contracted mouth of the opening can pass freely through the same into the drain. Only one end of each block may be thus recessed, if desired. The adjoining blocks are also by preference provided with interlocking projections and recesses at their meeting ends, so as to prevent lateral separation of the blocks and maintain the latter in their proper alinement, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. These projections and recesses extend around the drain-aperture from one side of the inlet-opening to the other, the projection being illustrated at 9 in Fig. 3 and the recess at 10 in Fig. 4. By preference also one block has a projecting boss 11 and the other block a cor responding recess 12, the same being located at the ends of the curb portion of the block, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Either of these means of interlocking the blocks can be used to the exclusion of the other. if desired; but it is preferable to use both. In laying the blocks the adjoining ends are cemented together, and where the ends of the blocks are separated, as in rounding curves, a suiiicient amount of cement is used to fill the gaps between the adjoining blocks.

1 am aware that hollow gutter-blocks provided with grated coverings have before been proposed; but my invention is distinct from such devices in that the drain 7, which my improved block provides, is practically an inclosed drain and not a substantially open drain, as in previous devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A gutter-block having a gutter-recess in its upper face, and a drain-opening extending longitudinally through said block closed at the top throughout the greater portion of its length and communicating at intervals with the gutter-recess through recesses formed in the block, substantially as specified.

2. 'A gutter-block having an inclosed drain extending longitudinally therethrough, and having an inlet-opening formed by a recess in either end of the block, substantially as specified.

3. A gutter-block having a drain-opening extending longitudinally therethrough, and having at either end a projection extending beyond the face of the block and around said drain-opening, substantially as specified.

4:. A gutter-block having a drain-opening extending longitudinally therethrough, and having at either end of the block, a recess extending around the drain-opening and serving for the reception of a locking projection on the adjoining block, substantially as specified.

5. A gutter-block having an inclosed drain extending longitudinally therethrough, and having at either end a recess leading from the gutter of the block to said drain-opening, said recess gradually expanding from top to bottom, substantially as specified.

6. A gutter-block having an inclosed drain extending longitudinally therethrough, a recess at either end leading from the gutter of extending longitudinally therethrough, and having at either end a recess or projection extending around the drain-opening, and a second recess or projection independent of the first, and both adapted for engagement with corresponding projections or recesses on an adjoining block, substantially as specified.

9. A gutter-block having an inclosed drain extending longitudinally therethrough, and having at either end a recess leading from the gutter of the block to said drain'opening, a projection or recess extending around the drain-opening, and a second projection or recess independent of the first, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses,

AMOS AUSTIN. Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. BEATON, WALTER CHIsM. 

